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Gardener State: NJ’s 2019 Outstanding Young Farmer James Abma Jr. is from Wyckoff

Nicholas Polanin, Correspondent
Published 8:00 a.m. ET Dec. 27, 2018

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Jimmy Abma, Jr. (left) and his wife Anna, with their family, are being honored as the 2019 Outstanding Young Farmer in NJ and are also National Finalists.(Photo11: ~Courtesy of NJ Department of Agriculture)

James Abma Jr., a Wyckoff vegetable producer, has been chosen as New Jersey’s 2019 Outstanding Young Farmer by the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture.

'Jimmy" Abma and his wife Anna are one of 10 finalists for the National Outstanding Young Farmer (OYF) Award. He will be recognized for the New Jersey honor at the 2019 New Jersey State Agricultural Convention in Atlantic City on Wednesday, Feb. 6.

“The Abmas have long been known for their hard work and positive influence on agriculture in New Jersey,” New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher said. “In following in his father’s footsteps, Jimmy has continued to enhance the agricultural experience at Abma’s Farm and has it well positioned to succeed long into the future. I congratulate Jimmy as he is well-deserving of this honor.”

Abma has been involved in agriculture since he started helping on the farm at age 8. By age 18, he was overseeing the farm’s vegetable production after having spent several summers working in the fields. He continues the family farming legacy in many ways, including the fact that his father, James, Sr., won the New Jersey Outstanding Young Farmer Award back in 1991.

“When I was younger, I was looking at my dad’s desk and saw his plaque for winning the Outstanding Young Farmer Award and I always thought it would be neat if I could have a chance to win it someday,” Jimmy Abma said. “I’ve always had a passion for farming. Working with produce was my starting point and it always took precedence. My goal is to bring more vegetable variety into our market and give our customers a high quality, fresh product from the fields to the market.”

Abma’s Farm works a total of 150 acres, selling produce retail at their on-site farm market, and wholesale through a local supermarket chain. They have been part of the Wyckoff landscape for more than 85 years. Their original 30-acre farm dates back to the 1790s, and the homestead and out-buildings are well preserved and kept in their original state. Their largest Dutch style barn, one of the few 200-plus year old barns still standing in Bergen County, has been converted into a thriving retail market with a “scratch” bakery and a gourmet kitchen. Nine decades and five generations later, they are still Bergen County’s only produce and poultry farm.

“We work hard to be informative about where food comes from, not only in our own market but also through our wholesale accounts by having our farm’s name and information available to the consumer,” Jimmy Abma said. “The consumer has the ability to contact us and learn about where their food comes from and what our growing practices are. During the growing season, we offer educational walking farm tours to show and explain vegetable production.”

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Freeholder Patricia Walsh, next to wreath, and Sheriff Frank Provenzano, at left, are joined by local veterans, county Veterans Office staff and Sheriff’s Office representatives as a wreath from Wreaths Across America is placed at Veterans Memorial Plaza in Somerville. ~Courtesy of Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders

The winning act from the 2016-17 school year Delaware Valley Regional High School's Faculty Talent Show was this dance troupe. Here are, from left, Cynthia Ezzard, Caryn Bowe, Jim Gessner, Ruth Graves and Kristin Henderson. ~Courtesy of Delaware Valley Regional High School

On Friday, Dec. 7, the North Brunswick community gathered at Elmwood Cemetery to commemorate Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.The ceremony was held at the gravesite of Robert Friedberg who was a survivor at Pearl Harbor and later in 1944 received the Bronze Star in Europe while fighting at the Battle of the Bulge. ~Courtesy of Elmwood Cemetery

The yearly Wreaths Across America parade of trucks will make its' way to and hold a ceremony on Dec. 12 at 11:30 a.m. at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Holmdel, 1 Memorial Lane. ~Courtesy of Wreaths Across America

On Nov. 20, Knights of Columbus Council #15540 donated 48 new winter coats to Christine Dey of the Readington Township Housing and Social Services in support of Coats for Kids. Pictured with Dey at the Readington Township Municipal building (from left to right) are Financial Secretary Frank Renda, Trustee Walter Urban and Grand Knight Tim Connolly. ~Courtesy of Knights of Columbus #15540

Annmarie Simeone, a member of Norris McLaughlin & Marcus in Bridgewater, has been elected to serve as president-elect of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association for the 2016-2017 term. ~Courtesy of NMM Law

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The support from his wife Anna is also vital to the family business. Her daily work includes doing payroll, bills, account balancing, decorating the farm for the seasons, leading the farm’s CSA program, and overseeing the petting zoo. Anna and Jimmy also have three young children, between the ages of 1 and 4.

“My wife wears many hats around the farm and she plays an essential role in our success,” Jimmy Abma said. “She is willing to get her hands dirty any time of the day to help and she is an amazing mother to our three children.”

Jimmy and Anna Abma also serve in the community. He has been on the Bergen County Board of Agriculture for the last five years, a member of the Wyckoff Volunteer Fire Department for 12 years and has provided live nativity and on-farm fall festival hayrides to two local churches for the last several years. She has been on the Wyckoff Volunteer Ambulance Corps for 10 years.

The OYF program is the oldest farmer recognition program in the United States, with the first group of national winners selected in 1955. The goals of the OYF program are to foster better urban-rural relations through the understanding of farmers’ challenges, as well as the appreciation of their contributions and achievements; to bring about a greater interest in farmers/ranchers; and to help build an urban awareness of the farmers’ importance and impact on America’s economy.

The OYF program encourages a greater interest in agriculture and recognizes local citizens’ contributions. The National OYF program is sponsored by Deere & Company, administered by the Outstanding Farmers of America Fraternity, and supported by the National Association of County Agricultural Agents, the National Association of Conservation Districts, and the US Junior Chamber of Commerce.